Magnetic resonance direct thrombus imaging was accurate in suspected deep venous thrombosis.

Patients 101 eligible patients (age range 20 to 95 y) from a group of 338 consecutive patients with suspected DVT who had routine venography. Patients with a positive result on venography and a subset of 25% of patients with a negative result, selected according to a predetermined sequence, were included. Exclusion criteria were pregnancy, known contrast allergy, renal failure, no leg symptoms, failed or inconclusive venography or MRDTI, contraindications to magnetic resonance imaging, or claustrophobia. Description of test and diagnostic standard MRDTI was done within 48 hours of venography. The scans were interpreted by an experienced radiologist and a non-radiologist trained to read MRDTI scans who were blinded to venography results. Venograms were interpreted by an independent radiologist and used as the diagnostic standard against which MRDTI was compared.